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I originally posted this article back in July of 2007 (which was the last time I got the flu), and since I was down for three days again this week, I thought I’d re-post it as a reminder:

“How to bring your system back online when an unexpected incident occurs.”

1. Start with an Overview

Pause before you begin your day to take a look at your most recent Weekly Review notes. Catch up on where you were the last time you gave your Actions and Projects a review. This will “re-boot” your mind and create a fresh starting point for the coming week.

2. Review Your Hard Landscape

Scan your Calendar, Waiting For, and Next Actions lists. Check your capture notebook, and Collect everything that may have been by-passed or delayed during your illness. This will ensure that anything you might have had planned gets re-scheduled if you missed it. Some time-specific events or notes may no longer be valid, and perhaps a deadline has passed and the Next Action is no longer appropriate. On the other hand, a Next Action or Waiting For that was not pressing may now need to be moved up on your list of priorities - becoming a Most Important Task for today.

3. Make Notes for the Next Weekly Review

When your schedule gets off-track, because of an illness or an emergency situation, it is important to plan for your next review of Next Actions and Projects. Make an appointment with yourself to get back into your routine. I would recommend blocking out some extra time for this particular Weekly Review. Use the extra time for extra brainstorming and/or creative thinking about where you are and where you want to be. This forward-looking activity can give you a jump-start into the following week. This is a powerful method of motivation, providing inspiration for future goals rather than prolonging the feeling of “playing catch-up”.

Bonus Tip: Ask for Help

Letting things go due to unforeseen circumstances creates feelings of frustration and anxiety. Remember that (in most cases) you can ask someone for assistance. You have friends, associates, family, and co-workers that you can likely go to for some assistance in completing tasks that need to get done. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of having a mature perspective. Asking for assistance can be one of the greatest gifts that you can give yourself.

Now I get to take my own advice! I have a meeting this morning, that I am ready for because of the Overview. When I get back I will be able to address the rest of my MITs for the day and get some things done.

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